Fishers man wins Westfield Lions Club’s Poker for Sight tournament

Bryan Weigel of Fishers won first place, which includes $10,000 and a custom leather jacket. (From left) Lions Tracy Rogers, Rodney Beson, Carl Wurtz, Weigel, Lions Mike Birk, John Wardlow, Bill Nesbitt, Bruce Bowman, Keith Sanborn, and Joel Davis. (Photo provided)

The Westfield Lions Club’s Spring 2023, Poker for Sight tournament took place this past weekend, April 14 and 15, at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant St., Noblesville.

The two Poker for Sight Texas Hold’em tournaments held each year are among the largest in the Midwest with nearly 300 players vying for the $25,000 purse with $10,000 going to the last man or woman standing.

A tradition with the Westfield Lions Club is the awarding of a big check to local charities at the start of each of the three qualification rounds and the championship round. This year the Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation, Indiana Hoosier Veterans and Families, Indiana Diabetes Youth Camp, and Third Phase Homeless Shelter, along with the Indy Edge Beep Baseball team were the recipients of the donations from the Lions Club at the tournament.

(From left) Lions Melissa Paradise, Don Collins, Jerry Kirby, Jeff Larrison, and Dave Sobczak present a check to the Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation for $1,500. (Photo provided)

Bryan Weigel of Fishers took home the lion’s share of the purse along with a gold winner’s coin and custom leather flight jacket for his first-place effort. Ted Ison of Kokomo took the second spot, with Jonathon Wallace in third place.

As usual the top 25 finishers of the Poker for Sight tournament are “in the money” with a share of the $25,000 pay out.

“We want to thank all the players that support our tournament,” Lions Club Poker Chairman Mike Birk said. “It allows the Lions to give so much back to the community. It is what we love to do. Thanks also to all the Lions club members and friends that help make these events possible.”

The Poker for Sight tournament winner receives $10,000, a Lions Club Poker Gold Coin, and a custom leather flight jacket. (Photo provided)

About the Lions Club
Lions Clubs International is a non-political service organization of over 1.7 million members worldwide, established originally in 1917 in Chicago by Melvin Jones. It now has over 46,000 local clubs in more than 200 countries. The Lions’ motto is “We Serve.” Local Lions Club programs include sight, hearing, and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues, and many other programs. Learn more at WestfieldLions.org.